The Religion of Democracy…, by Whitney Farmer – Un Pop Culture | @MDWorld
Whitney worked at a rock music venue on the beach in L.A.. She has an MBA and is glad that her taxes pay for food stamps for poor people.
Regarding the recent Presidential debate, mouthpiece Ann Coulter tweeted, “I highly approve of Romney’s decision to be kind and gentle to the retard.” She was referring to our President.
This week on the other side of the same world in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened a memorial to the Roma (Gypsy) and related people groups who were victims of the Holocaust. Designed by perfectly-named Israeli artist Dani Karavan, the contended sculpture and reflecting pond has “Auschwitz” by Italian poet Santino Spinelli inscribed around the rim.
And on Sunday in the Polish town of Debnow, the oldest known survivor of that notorious death camp, died at the age of 108. Antoni Dobrowloski, a teacher, was sent to the camp for violating the Nazi policy of restricting education beyond four years of elementary school. The Nazis knew that an educated people are difficult to control and ultimately dangerous to their political aspirations. After liberation, he returned to his profession as teacher in both the elementary and high school grades until his retirement.
As our elections are imminent and eminent, reflecting on the consequences of ignoring the importance of moral decisions in our voting booths is sobering.
The BBC reported Chancellor Merkel as stating, “Every single fate in this genocide is a suffering beyond understanding. Every single fate fills me with sorrow and shame. It was important to remember so that such atrocities were not repeated. It is not only the responsibility of educational institutions, as important as they are, but it’s our responsibility, it’s the responsibility of each and every one of us, because in indifference, in a culture of ‘it’s not my business’… this is where the seed of contempt for human values starts growing.”
The Nazi Party was democratically elected.
No human process is perfect. Even our cells turn malignant and change into cancer on a daily basis. Hopefully our internal systems work well and identify the potential threats, contain them, destroy them and thus allow the body to become stronger.
It is important to note that the lifesaving process of our immune systems in combating cancer is described in the same manner as the political process that can lead to crimes against humanity.
Mouthpiece Ann Coulter’s dialogue is my responsibility. It must be said that her statements are unconscionable. It must be said that I will not support acts that I view as wicked.
I am a Christian. My religion informs my politics, not vice versa. It is important to me from a moral perspective how politicians make their money. A politician’s spiritual beliefs are important to me. If a politician lists one of his favorite authors on facebook as L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, instead of Ralph Waldo Emerson, that is important to me. If a close member of a politician’s circle – family – fantasizes publically about violence against the President and isn’t publically reprimanded, this is important to me.
This week, our extended family welcomed with some medical drama a new little soul into our circle. I am Pro-Life, and I am Pro-Choice, perhaps making me hated by people I love from either side. It is possible to be both in the secular arena, and I pray that the distinctions I have made in my heart are also acceptable to God. My job is to get on God’s side, not to expect Him to get on mine. When I read the Christian Bible, Old and New Testaments, all of it, I read things that sound nothing like are being described by Mouthpiece Coulter and her tribe. I see only some hints of democracy, and these with consistently imperfect execution. I see that all systems that we come up with are going to fail on some individual level, and can lead a people into disaster if a leader isn’t humble, grateful, and informed.
The French Gypsies are coming to town next week. I’m going to ask if they want to make a trip to Manzanar with me. It is near Mt. Whitney – the highest point on the continental U.S. – and Death Valley – the lowest point in the country.
This is our home.
Smackdown QUOTES of the BLOG:
Quote of the Blog from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “A man is what he thinks about all day long…”
Versus…
Quote of the Blog from L. Ron Hubbard at the Eastern Science Fiction Association, 7 November 1948: “You don’t get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, start a religion.
Photo of Auschwitz guard tower, by Bill Hunt, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the camp in January 2005.
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October 25th, 2012 at 9:57 am
My Sister.
October 25th, 2012 at 10:05 am
And congratulations on the new expression of “Something Wonderful!” that has been gifted to the family. Thoughts of grace and peace to all.
October 25th, 2012 at 10:41 am
Whitney,
I guess I’m guilty of shirking my responsibility. I’ve watched exactly zero minutes of the three debates, having made my choice awhile ago.
When you get to Manzanar, say hello to the water that will be in Los Angeles in a few days. The City of Los Angeles made a lot of money leasing Manznar to the Army so they could build those relocation/internment/concentration camps. Since you’re an Angeleno I’m betting this is important to you also.
Outofwrightfield.blogspot.com
October 25th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Lovely, dear.
October 25th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
“My job is to get on God’s side, not to expect Him to get on mine.”
Whitney, I always read your column bur rarely comment. I guess it’s because you say the things I with I had.
Thanks.
October 25th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Yeah, but how often does the choice actually come down to L. Ron Hubbard OR Ralph Waldo Emerson? L. Ron and I have (had) mutual friends, including my mentors Julie Schwartz and Del Close. He was a decent pulp-era science fiction writer, and he was hardly the first guy to figure out that religion can make you really wealthy. Not by a couple millennia.
On the other hand, Ann Coulter is one crazy slithering piece of shit. Her greatest accomplishment was to make Glenn Beck seem reasonable — by comparison.
This morning the FBI arrested a New York City police officer for attempted kidnapping of women for the purpose of cannibalism. We don’t know much about this guy yet outside of his emails and such, but thus far Ann Coulter makes HIM seem reasonable by comparision.
October 25th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Mike, being that you have history (man, who DON’T you know?!), with L.Ron…I’m interested in your perception of ‘The Master’.
Aaannd, just in case you were trying to throw some subtle shade at the Rabboni with your ‘couple millenia’ reference, if you were to REALLY study the B’rit Hadashah with a desire to seek understanding of the true heart of both the Messenger and His message, you would see that:
1. He reviled ‘Religion’.
2. The heart of the leaders and disciples of the both the Tanakh and the first Jewish (and later Gentile) church was in direct opposition to the notion of amassing wealth for the purpose of self consumption but to rather to share so that ALL would glean benefit.
Just a few examples: The practice of Gleaning, Malachi 3, the chasing out of the moneychangers from the Temple, the feeding of the 5,000, and the believers having and sharing all things in common.
So just so’s you don’t get it twisted my brother, the Faith has never been about being either religion or a means to amass wealth for selfish purposes, but about relationship and the balanced health, peace and security of community.
October 25th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Yeah…I know man.
October 25th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Mike,
How did Julie feel about Hubbard abandoning his career and becoming a full time con man?
Whitney,
Do you have a good source for the Hubbard quote? I’ve heard it attributed to him at various times and circumstances. I’d love to have a rock solid source.
October 25th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Doug, you asked the Whit, and not sure about rock solidness, but here are some anecdotes of interest
One being from Harlan Ellison, so that one could possibly be verified.
October 25th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Doug, Son of Abram (and Regis) -
Rock solid would be good. Or at least a rock solid quote from Hubbard that says he DIDN’T say it…maybe it’s like razor blades in apples or alligators in sewers. Legend stuff.
This is a quickie site that discusses a few sources. Might be helpful:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard
Whether he said it or not, he should have.
October 25th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Regis -
You referenced one of my favorite statutes: Gleaning.
No one is supposed to be so greedy – or conversely, fearful – that they covet every sigle seed in their harvest. Because, after all, it really isn’t theirs, is it?
Allowing some of the crop to be made available for the poor doesn’t create a welfare state. Ummm…the Almighty required it to be done. Anyone got a problem with that? Talk to the Big Guy.
Ruth had to work the fields like the first string of harvesters in order to reap the rewards, plus deal with her desolate status at the end of the day when others were returning to what must have been more comfortable homes. Poverty is hard work. And Boaz didn’t think less of her for encountering tragedy that had left her in her broken state,
Ah, Boaz…what a MAN!
October 25th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Mike, the Golden Boy -
The comparison of authors Hubbard versus Emerson was a veiled reference to a recent article in the L.A. Times that mentioned the self-reported favorite authors of the two condidates.
Guess which one chose which…
I don’t think that the enemies of God are those who are seekers. I think that they are those who are opportunists. They seem like real predators. Cannibals who dine only on hearts and brains perhaps.
Maybe Mouthpiece Colter does what she does as an opportunist, intending to shock to elicit attention and a consequent financial windfall. Doesn’t matter. What she does is dangerous.
“The tongue is a flame of fire. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” James 3:6
Yup.
P.S. Someday we must have coffee together.
October 25th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
George (or as we say in L.A., ‘Jorge’) -
Silent or not, you honor me with your reading.
I suspect that you and I might have a hero in common: Joshua? I love it when he asks the angel before a battle whose side he is on, and he is told, “Neither. I fight for the armies of the Almighty God.”
I think about that alot.
October 25th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Divine Ms. M -
Lovely? Yes, you are.
October 25th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Moriarty -
Whoa…I knew about the Owens River Valley deesecration and chief villain Mulholland, and that “Chinatown” was kind of a documentary…but I didn’t know that. From a spiritual perspective, the question isn’t why the City has so many problems. It’s why don’t we have more.
So, for a City, once blood has been shed, how do you seek forgiveness and then walk it out? When I first moved back to L.A., Major Villaragosa issued a formal apology to the Owens River Valley, and then hit a switch that changed the water flow. I guess some areas of the desert are blooming now because of this. I suppose it’s a start.
Don’t worry about missing the debates. It’s probably wiser. Read “The Prince” instead.
October 26th, 2012 at 6:59 am
Whitney,
No city, no person, no nation is without sin. I suppose atonement should work for all three. The Prince? Man, I got about 80% of the way through Moby Dick, still hadn’t seen the whale, and that one started out in English.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Whitney: Make no mistake, IMO Emerson was far better at his craft than L Ron was at his. My defending his pulp work with the faintest of praise is like my defending a decent guitar player despite his drug use — L Ron deserves his place in the second rank of s-f authors of the era.
I’d kill to have coffee with you, and I don’t even drink coffee. If they ever let me back into L.A…
Doug: Julie NEVER mentioned L Ron’s latter career. He just sorta rolled his eyes briefly and let out a sigh. I took this as a sign that Julie was pissed that he couldn’t recruit L Ron into writing comics (which he might have been really good at) the way he did Robert Bloch and David V Reed. Alfie Bester was in comics before Julie, I think, but they did work together. Maybe on Green Lantern.
I think Del, on the other hand, kinda admired the guy’s hustle. Del was a witch, so the religion thing didn’t bother him. Or me, for that matter, for reasons I stated above.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Thanks Mike. That’s actually the kind of response that I’d imagined. The part of the religion thing that I’ll never understand is why so many people, some quite intelligent, buy into a cult dreamed up by a pulp writer.
Reg,
Interesting link. If nothing else, it shows how muddled Hubbard’s history is. He said, she said; with the “church” more than willing to throw money and lawyers against any story they don’t like.
Whitney,
The Ellison version is the most trustworthy, I’m just reluctant to use it because.as far as I know, no one else from that meeting has ever come forward to corroborate his story. The quote does sound like something that Hubbard would say.
October 29th, 2012 at 12:58 am
Doug, Son of Abram -
Am I a conspiracy theorist if I wonder if the original citation has been buried somewhere through official covert Scientology efforts? They messed with Wikipedia until it was uncovered. Is nothing sacred..?
Just because I am paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get us.
October 29th, 2012 at 1:00 am
Golden Boy -
That settles it. Let’s shoot for Krispy Kreme instead.